Cluster lamp-socket.



R. B. BENJAMIN.

CLUSTER LAMP SOCKET.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 14, 190B.

Patented Mar. 1, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1 Illfllll 'lilllll R. B. BENJAMIN. CLUSTER LAMP SOCKET.

APPLICATION rmzn APR. 14, 1900.

Patented M31 1, 1910.

R. B. BENJAMIN.

CLUSTER LAMP SOCKET.

APPLICATION 11,111) APB.14, 190s Patented Mar. 1, 1910..

3 SHEETS-BRIGHT 3.

fill/672K 07 I AWorrzeyM structural units is adapted to be permanentlyvstruction which is well adapted to accommol REUBEN 1B. BENJAMIN,

MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 BENJAMIN ELECTRIC ILLINOIS, ACORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CLUSTER LAMP-SOCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 1, 1910.

Application filed April 14, 1908. Serial No. 426,940.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Cluster Lamp -'Sockets, of whichthe following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of thisspecification. I

My invention relates to incandescent lamp cluster devices and has forits object the provision of a cluster wherein the electrical connectionswith the supply circuit may be made readily and conveniently and whichis of such construction that an ornamental shade o-rrefiector may be putin place thereon or removed therefrom without disturbing the wiring.

My invention is further directed toward securing a device of simpleconstruction and good appearance and one which may be .mounted in lacein a convenient manner.

Thebroac principle of my invention lies in structural improvements,whereby the desirable results hereinbefore pointed out are obtained, andconsists in formin the device of two readily separable units. )ne ofthese mounted upon .an original support, such as a ceiling or a conduitextending therefrom, and carries the electrical'binding terminals towhich the leading-in conductors are attached; the other unit carries thelamps and means provided whereby the lamp contacting members of thedevice may be properly connected with the binding terminals when theseparable units are brought together. This feature of having theelectrical bindin terminals permanently mounted is particuiirly useful,as it is of great assistance when the electrical connections are beingmade and avoids the necessity of employing slack wire which is alwaysunclesirable in electrical wiring.

As before broadly pointed out, this invention is particularly dlrectedtoward embodying the features just mentioned in a con date a reflectoror ornamental shade, and to this end I construct the permanentlymountednnit of the device of such size that an ordinary reflector orshade may pass over the i same, the other unit being of such size andconstruction as to surround the first-named unit and to support thereflector or shade. Thus the separation of one unit from the otherpermits taking down the reflector or shade conveniently and admits ofaccess to the interior of the device for the purpose of making theelectrical connections.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in WlllCl1-Figure 1 is an elevational view thereof, parts being broken away toexpose to view the interior construction; Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof,parts being broken away to reveal the interior construction; Fig. 3 is across-sectional view on the line 3-3'of Fig.

2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; Fig. 4 is a viewillustrating the two structural units of my device disconnected, theseparable parts of one of said units being further disconnected; Fig. 5is a bottom plan View of that structural unit which is adapted to bepermanently mounted; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of themeinberswhich .I employ to secure mechanical" connection between theseparable units; and" Fig. '7 is a detail view illustrating, inperspective, one of the contact members through which communication isestablished between the current-carrying parts on the respective units.Like reference numerals are applied to the same parts throughout thevarious figures.

The device is supported bv means of the supporting. cap 10 which is inthe shape of an inverted dish and is secured to a suitable support suchas a ceiling or a pipe or conduit extending therefrom. The supportingcap is conveniently stamped from sheet metal and is therefore providedwith a central opening in which is disposed a bushing 11 of moresubstantial material. This bushing has a shoulder encountering theinside of the cap and is secured in place by being burred over as shownat 12. The inside of this bushing is screw-threaded so that it mayreceive the lower end of a pipe or conduit extending from a ceiling orother similar support, and through which the leading-in wires are led.In case the device is to be secured directly to a ceiling or the like,supportin screws are passed from the inside throng the openings 13, 13in the cap.

Held inside this supporting cap 10 is an insulating member 14 whichforms the inner base of the device and, together with the cap,constitutes the permanently mounted structural unit. As a means forretaining this insulating base within the supporting cap 10,1 have shownlugs 15, 15 extending laterally from the sides thereof, these lugs beingadapted to engage over ribs 16, 16 pressed inwardly from the cap 10.-These ribs appear as'grooves in the outer surface of the supportingcap,-and these grooves constitute part of the means for securingseparable connection between the two main structural units, as will behereinafter fully pointed out. These pressed-in portions extend aroundthe supporting cap except at the spaces 17, 17 which are disposed tocoincide simultaneously with the projections 15, 15 on the base 14;thus, when the base is inserted Within the cap, the projections 15, 15pass up through the spaces 17,17 and when the base is given a slightrotation they pass over the ribs. One or more of said ribs may beprovided with an upwardly extending part 18 which may act as a stop tobe engaged by the respective projection 15, thus locking the baseagainst further rotation. The base 14, which is hollowed out as shown inthe drawings, is of general frusto;con-ical contour and disposed thereonis the correspondingly shaped electrically isolated contact ring 19.This ring is held in place. by means of oppositely disposed lugs 20, 20extending therefrom and passing through adjacent slots 21, 21 into thehollowed out portion ofthe base, being bent over upon respectiveshoulders 22, 22. The contact ring 19 is also provided with the inwardlyprojecting t-oe"'23 which carries the binding screw 24, to which one ofthe supply con-.

ductors, leading through a proximate opening 25 in the base may beconnected. I

Adapted to surround and be supported by the supporting cap 10 is anannular insulating member 26 which forms the outer base and, togetherwith the parts carried thereby, constitutes the other structural unit ofthe device. The upper side of this outer insulating base is hollowed outat its inner periphery and an annular preferably-metallic plate 27 isdisposed in this hollowed out portion. This annular plate is providedwith a plurality of outwardl extendin lugs 28, 28 resting in respectivey dispose pits 29, 29 in the outer base, and is firmly held. in place bymeans of screws 30, 30 passing upwardly through the base and havingthreaded engagement with nuts 31, 31 on the opposite side thereof. thesescrews are preferably sunk in the base, as shown in the drawin s toescape the current conducting parts of the structure. Thev annular plate27 is also provided with a plurality o inwardly extending lugs 32, 32which are so disposed as to correspond with The heads of 5 and engage inthe bayonet grooves made by Y vided a plurality of spring members 33,33,

clamped between the respective lugs 28, 28, which are convenientlycoincident with the inwardly projecting lugs 32, 32, and the nuts 31,31. These spring members extend into the bayonet grooves with therespective lugs32, 32 and tend topress the lugs downwardly againstthelower walls of the grooves, thus forming a positive connection betweenthe outer base and the supporting cap and preventing rattlingofthestructure and the liability of disarrangement. In order to lock the lugswithin thebayonet grooves, I have slightly widened the horizontalportions of the grooves at their inner ends as shown at 34 in Fig. 4;this leavesa stop 34 projecting into the bayonet groove and it isevident thatsuch an arrangement will prevent disengagement of the outerbase 26 from the supporting cap unless a sufficient rotary force beapplied thereto to compress the spring members. v

Mounted upon the under side of they annular base is an electricallyconductive bowlshaped shell 35 having an outturned 'fiange counters saidbase and through Whichbolts 36, 36 extending through the base,.may passto secure the shell firmly in place. This bowl-shaped shell is providedwith a plurality of circularly arranged openings and, if'desired, acentraljopening, at which outwardly extending lampreceiving contactsleeves 37, 37 are secured. Thecircularly arranged threaded sleeves arein such position that the center terminalsoflamps inserted therein mayengage with the electrical contact ring 19, and, in view of the factthatthe contact sleeves are all interconnected by the shell 35, the outerterminals of these lamps will .be electrically united.

The inner base 14 is provided with a i v downwardly facing shoulder 38upon which a ring contact member 39 is secured by means .of screws 40,40 passing through lugs 41, 41 extending inwardly therefrom. Th s ringcontactmemb'er 39 extends into a 00- acting contactmember 42 which iscentrally disposed insidetheshell 35 and is secured in place thereon bymeansv of lugs 42, 4

,which are passed through openings in the,

shell and are bent overupon the outside of the shell as shown in Figs. 3and 4. The contachmember 42 is provided with a phi rality of springanglelugs 43 extending inwardly therefrom, this arrangement providthereto,this binding-screw thus forming the circuit terminal for all the outercontacts in the cluster. As a center contact for association with thecentrally disposed contact sleeve 37, I have provided the screw 48passing upwardly through the base and having engagement with a nut 48 onthe opposite side thereof; this screw together with the cone plate 48",which it retains in place, forms the contact for engagement by thecenter terminal of a lamp inserted in said central sleeve. Between thecone plate 48 and the base an insulating disk 49 is clamped for obviouspurposes. As shown in the drawings, this center contact is disposed upona small extended portion of the base 14 and. as illustrated in Figs. 3and 5, this extended portion is provided with a slot leading from theoutside thereof to the central aperture through which the screw 48passes. In this slot is disposed an electrically conductive plate 50with which the screw 48 has threaded engagement; this plate extendsoutwardly upon the base and is provided at its end with a bindingterminal 50 to which a separate leading-in wire, entering the devicethrough an opening 51 in the base, may be attached. Thus it appears thatwith proper switching mechanism exteriorly situated. the centrallydisposed lamp may be separately controlled; should collective control bedesirable, a permanent conductor may be placed across the bindingterminals 24 and 50 to secure the desired result.

Surrounding the shell 3:) and the various lamp-holding devices carriedthereby is a bowl-shaped casing 52 which has an annular shoulder and arim flange 54 for encountering the annular base 26, as shown in thedrawii'igs. This casing is provided with a plurality of openingsregistering with the various lamp-holding contact sleeves carried by theshell 35, these openings being of such size that insulating bushings 55,55 having threaded engagement with the outside of the sleeves, may bepassed therethrough. Each of these in ulating bushings is provided withan enlargement 56, thus forming a shoulder which engages the outside ofthe casing to retain the same in place, as shown in the drawings.

Thus it becomes apparent that my device comprises essentially, twostructural units: first, the inner base 14 which is adapted to bepermanently supported and which carries lamp contacting means and thebinding terminals of the device; and, second, the structure comprisingthe annular insulating base, the shell carrying the contact sleeves, andthe casing. The last-named unit is detachably secured to the first-namedunit so as to admit of ready removal therefrom, and it is apparent thatwhen so removed all the lamps in the cluster will be carried therewithand the permanently mounted binding terminals of the device will beexposed to access. The easily separable connection between the ill-'80ner base and the cap, which together comprise the first-named unit,facilitates the original mounting of the structure. The permanentlymounted unit is of such size that it may readily pass through the usualopening in reflectors or ornamental shades; thus, the shade may besupported entirely by and be removable with the larger element. Theco-acting contact members 39 and 42 provide for the proper connectionsbetween the current carrying parts of the separable members, and are ofsuch construction as to permit of the necessary relative rotation oftheparts when brought together.-

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a lamp socket, the combination of a supporting cap, an insulatingbase insertible into said cap and supported thereby, binding terminalscarried by said base, a lampengaging contact also carried by said base,a second insulating base detachably secured to said supporting cap, alamp-receiving shell carried by said second base, means arranged toestablish electrical communication between said shell and a bindingterminal when said second base is secured in position, and a casingshell carried by said second base and electrically insulated thereby.

2. In a lamp socket, the combination of a supporting cap, a baseinsertible into said cap and sup orted thereby, binding terminalscarried y said base, a lamp-engaging contact also carried by said base,a riugshaped insulating base arranged to extend around said cap, meansfor detachably securing said ring-shaped base to said cap, and alamp-holder carried by said ring-shaped base and arranged to support alamp in position to engage said contact.

3. In a lamp socket, the combination of a supporting cap having ribs onits interior, a base sustained upon said ribs, binding terminals carriedby said base, a ring-shaped 125 insulating base extending around saidcap, said cap having grooves on its exterior. means resting in saidgrooves for sustaining said ring-shaped base, a lamp-holdin devicecarried by said ring-shaped base, and

means for establishing electrical connection between a terminal of alamp and one of said binding terminals when. said ring-shaped base issecured in position.

4. The combination of a supporting member, an insulating base detachablysecured thereto, binding terminals carried by said base, a second basedetachably secured to said supporting member, a conducting shell carriedby said second base, a lamp-holder carried by said shell, a casing shellsupported by said lamp-holder, and means for establishing electricalcommunication between a lamp in said holder and one of the bindingterminals when said second base is secured in position.

5. The combination of a supporting member, an insulating base carriedthereby, binding terminals carried by said base, a second basedetachably secured to said supporting member, a conducting shell securedto said second base, a lamp-receiving shell carried by said conductingshell, means for establishing electrical communication between saidconducting shell and one oi the binding terminals when said second baseis secured in position, anda casing supported by said lamp-receivingshell.

6. In a cluster lamp socket, the combination with an insulating base, ofa second insulating base detachably secured thereto, lampholding andcontacting means carried by said second-named base, a binding terminalcarried by said first-named base, means for establishing electricalconnection between said lamp-contacting means and said binding'tertninalwhen said bases are brought together, and a casing carried by saidsecond-named .base.

7. In a cluster lamp socket, the combination with a supporting member,of an insulating base detachably carried'by said supporting member, asecond insulating base detachably secured to said supporting member,lamp-holding and contacting means car- I ried by said bases, and bindingterminals for said contacting means carried by said firstnamed base.

8. In a cluster lamp socket, the combination with a supporting member ofan insulating base detachably carried thereby, a second insulating basesurrounding said first-named base and detachably secured to saidsupporting member, lamp-holding and contacting means carried by saidbases, and binding terminals for said contacting means carried by saidfirst-named base.

9. In a cluster lamp socket, the combina tion with a supporting member,of an insulating basecarried thereby, a second insulating base, abayonet joint arran 'ement between said second-named base an saidsupporting member, and lamp-holding and contacting means carried by saidbases.

10. In a cluster lamp socket, the combination with a supporting caphaving inwardly punched portions, of an insulating base having portionsthereof engaging over said punched portions so that it may be supportedby said cap, a second insulating base, parts on said second-named basefor disposition within bayonet slots formed in said cap by saidpunchings, and lamp-holding and contacting means carried by said bases.

11. The combination of a supporting member,an insulating base carriedthereby, binding terminals carried by said base, a lampengaging contactcarried by said base, a second insulating base detachably secured tosaid supporting member, a conducting shell and a casing shell carried bysaid second base, and insulated from each other thereby, alamp-receiving shell electrically connected with said conducting shell,and means for establishing electrical connection between said conductingshell and'a binding terminal when said second base is securedinposition.

12. In a cluster lamp socket, the combination with an inner insulatingbase, of an outer insulating base detachably secured thereto, a contactpiece on said inner base, a binding terminal for said contact piececarried on the under side of said inner base, a conducting shell carriedon the under side of said outer base, lamp-contacting means carriedbysaid shell and means whereby said shell is electrically connected withsaid con:

sulating base detachably secured thereto, a

plurality of circularly arrangedlamp-holding sleeves carried by saidsecond-named base, a contact member disposed on said first-named baseand arranged in position for engagement by the center terminals of lampsinserted in said circularly arranged sleeves, a binding terminal forsaid contact member disposed on the under side of said first-named base,a separate contact member carried by said first-named base in positionfor engagement by the center terminal of a lamp inserted in saidcentrally dis .osed sleeve, and a binding terminal for sai separatecontact disposed on the under side 0 said first-named base.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two witnesses.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN. Witnesses:

ARTHUR H. BOETTCHER, M. L. FARRAR.

tact piece when said outer base is in position

